Tag Archives: Around the home

Your gutters play an important role in protecting your foundation. A clean gutter should provide proper drainage for storm water runoff and prevent erosion near your foundation.

How do I know when they are dirty? I can’t see up there from the ground.

A gutter that has collected debris will not allow for proper flow. If you have noticed water overflowing from the side of your gutters, your gutters may not be large enough or they may be clogging with debris.

Where does debris come from and what is it?

The debris that can be found inside your gutters can be caused by many things. Any solid object can lead to a blockage over time or simply slow the flow of water if not completely blocked. This debris could be from limbs, leaves, shingle rock, bird nesting, seeds, or any number of other environmental items.

I don’t have any trees near my house, so why should I clean my gutters?

Even if you don’t have trees & large shrubs planted close by your home, your gutters can still collect debris from neighboring properties. The wind, birds & other environmental factors could still lead to clogged or slow flowing gutters.

How much would it cost to clean my gutters?

Many factors go into gutter cleaning prices. Some of these factors are: the pitch of your roof, how tall the roof line is (1,2, or 3 story), how much guttering you have, how dirty or clogged the gutters are (some are packed solid with debris and even have trees growing out of them), and some companies will charge extra to clean out or flush your downspouts. There are many factors that can play into the pricing. These are just a few examples.

Do I have to clean my gutters every year?

Yes and No.

Yes, you should clean them every year if you do not have an effective gutter cover system installed. Neglected gutters can lead to possible rotted roof decking, warped boards behind siding and foundation erosion.

No – you do not have to clean them every year if you have a superior gutter cover system installed

What type of gutter cover does Lukes GC install?

We install a barely visible low profile product that handles even the hardest rainfalls on any roof pitch and is made right here in the USA. The installation of our product will not void your roof warranty, unlike some other products on the market. It comes in a variety of colors to match your specific home décor. The manufacturer offers a 20 year transferrable warranty and we offer a 2 year installation warranty. With our labor warranty, if at any time your gutters have a blockage in the next 4 seasons, we’ll come and clean them out at no additional cost to you!

How will I know how much it costs?

Call us today at 865-771-4085 to schedule your no obligation, no cost estimate. It’s that simple.

Summer is the time we all love to be outdoors. Whether your preference is the beach, lake or your own back yard – summer is the most fun time of the year.

It’s also the hottest time of the year, which can be hard on your AC system. Be sure that you are regularly checking/replacing your filters as needed to keep your system at peek performance.

Many people host get-togethers at their home during summer for grilling & swimming. Be sure to keep your grill at least 8′ away from your home or further for safety. A hot grill can melt soffit and siding if too close – or worse… If your deck is not large enough to accommodate a safe distance, give us a call. We can help you plan your deck expansion or repairs.

Summer can throw us some severe storms too. Keep us in mind when an emergency strikes. We offer emergency roof tarps, tree removal from roof top and many other services.

Call any time 865-771-4085. If after hours or on weekends, leave a message and we will return your call.

Lukes GC has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013.

“We are extremely excited to receive this esteemed award from Angie’s List. We want to thank all of our customers for giving us excellent reviews. Our goal is to establish relationships with our customers and provide the best quality work for an affordable rate.”

“Only about 5 percent of the companies Lukes GC competes with in Knoxville are able to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a mark of consistently great customer service.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to healthcare. More than 2 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List Magazine and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.

A very important part of home maintenance is maintaining energy efficiency. One of the most overlooked way homeowners lose energy is right through their roof. When thinking about winterizing our homes, many people consider the common areas like doors, windows, and other obviously drafty areas. It is important that we do not overlook our attic spaces as well.

Even if you do not have an attic access that allows you to use your attic area for storage, your attic should be still be accessible. Even in older homes, there should be a peep-hole access cut away in the ceiling of at least one room. If you haven’t been in your attic space lately, now may be a good time to climb up there and take a look around. Maintenance inspection points are as follows:

Venting – Every roof should have a venting system installed. If you have gable vents (vents on the sides of your home where the hot air escapes) ensure that these are not blocked by stored items or boxes. Some gable vents have a fanned system that turns on automatically to blow out the warm air. If you have this type of fan, ensure it is functioning properly (not burnt out or unplugged). If you do not feel safe checking by yourself, please consult a professional.

This would be a good time to look for evidence of small rodents also. If found, treat the area appropriately for removal.

Insulation – attic insulation types and ratings vary from home to home, but the code requirement remains the same. The rating of insulation is characterized by an R-##. The higher the # is that follows the R, the higher your insulation factor is. Attic insulation in Knoxville should be a minimum of R-30 (old requirement – used in older homes) up to the new requirement of R-38. The type of insulation used is determined by the type of structure (finished, unfinished, or vaulted) and the desired insulation factor you are trying to achieve.

Insulation types include: Blanket (rolled or batts), Loose fill and Blown-in, and Sprayed Foam and Foam-in-place. You may find any of these types or more than one in your attic space.

Insulation should be visible in an unfinished attic on the “floor” of the attic between the rafters. The insulation should not be mashed down or compacted in any way.

If your attic is partially finished (for storage access) spray foam or foam-in-place should have been used on the floors around walls and filling in larger cracks where heat could escape the living quarters of your home. Insulation should also be used on the walls between the studs. This area maybe covered or uncovered depending on the level of “finish” in your attic space. Also, all knee walls (vertical walls with attic space directly behind them) should be sealed and insulated.

If you have been advised or already know that you have blown in or loose fill insulation in your attics space, take a ruler or measuring tape with you as you go to inspect. There are 3 common types of blown in or loose fill insulation that could be installed. Fiberglass, cellulose, or rock wool. If you have cellulose blown in insulation, you should have approximately 9″ of insulation covering the entire “flooring” area of your attic. 9″ of this type of insulation provides an R factor of R-32.4. 8″ only provides an R factor of R-28.8. To meet Knoxville code, the depth should be 10.6″ to meet the R-38 factor. If you have cellulose blown in insulation, you should have a minimum or 14-17″ of insulation on the “floor” of the attic to achieve the R-38 factor. If you have rock wool blown in insulation, you need 11.5-13″ of insulation to achieve R-29 to R-33 factor.

Once you have determined if this DIY project is for you, purchase the insulation needed at a home improvement store and determine a day to do this project. If you are unsure this DIY project is for you personally to complete, please call a professional.

For assistance installing more insulation, inspecting your current insulation factor or for questions, feel free to call us at 865-200-9627 for more information.